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{{short description|Ancient Egyptian deity}}
{{Infobox hieroglyphsdeity
|name = <hiero>T28:t</hiero><ref name=CLG/>
|type = egyptian
|name transcription = Kherty <br /> ''Ḫr.tj''
|name explanation = ''The lower one''Kherty
|image =Kherty.svg
|name2 = <hiero>T28:t-i-G7</hiero><ref name=CLG/>
|caption = Kherty was depicted as a mummified Ram
|name2 transcription = Kherty <br /> ''Ḫr.tj''
|namehiero = <hiero>T28:t</hiero><ref name=CLG/> or <hiero>T28:t-i-G7</hiero><ref name=CLG/>
|name2 explanation = ''The lower one''
|image1 =
|image1-width =
|image1 description =
}}
 
'''Kherty''' is an [[Ancientancient Egypt]]ianEgyptian deity]]. Despite being archaeologically attested since the early [[Second Dynasty of Egypt|2nd dynastyDynasty]], his original mythological role during this era is unclear. The earliest mythological descriptions of Kherty's rolewas appearan notEgyptian until the [[Sixth Dynastygod of Egypt|6th dynasty]] in the [[Pyramid TextsDuat]].<ref name=JGT/>John<ref Gwynname=GMD>Georg GriffithsMeurer: ''TheDie OriginsFeinde ofdes OsirisKönigs andin Hisden CultPyramidentexten'' (= ''StudiesOrbis inbiblicus theet history of religionsorientalis'', vol. 40189). BRILLSaint-Paul, Leiden 19802002, {{ISBN|90040609603525530463}}, ppp. 673, 17374 & 17476.</ref>. The earliest mythological descriptions of Kherty's wasrole ando Egyptiannot godappear ofuntil the underworld[[Sixth and ferrymanDynasty of Egypt|6th Dynasty]] in the dead[[Pyramid Texts]].<ref name=JGT/><refJohn name=GMD>GeorgGwyn MeurerGriffiths: ''DieThe FeindeOrigins desof KönigsOsiris inand denHis PyramidentextenCult'' (= ''OrbisStudies biblicusin etthe orientalishistory of religions'', vol. 18940). Saint-PaulBRILL, 2002Leiden 1980, {{ISBN|35255304639004060960}}, ppp. 736, 74173 & 76174.</ref>
 
== Description ==
The earliest depictions of Kherty appear during the early 2nd dynasty, under king ([[pharaoh]]) [[Hotepsekhemwy]] and [[Raneb]]. He is normally shown as a recumbent and mummified [[sheep|ram]]. In rare instances he was pictured as a bull or a lion. The figurine is always guided by the [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyphic]] signs of a shamble and a bread loaf, giving a reading as ''kherty''.
 
== Cult ==
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== Mythology ==
{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}
Kherty was a death deity with a contradicting character: The pyramid texts reveal that he was worshipped at one side as a guide, who brought the deceased king safely to "the yonder site" by "being the ferryman". He also protected the deceased against various demons (named ''inmetjw'' in the texts) sent by [[Set (deity)|Seth]]. The deceased king was then brought to his destination by [[Ra]].<ref name=JGT/><ref name=GMD/>
Kherty was a contradicting character: The pyramid texts reveal that he was worshipped at one side as a guide, who brought the deceased king safely to "the yonder site" by "being the ferryman". He also protected the deceased against various demons (named ''inmetjw'' in the texts) sent by [[Set (deity)|Seth]]. The deceased king was then brought to his destination by [[Ra]].<ref name=JGT/><ref name=GMD/> On the other site, however, Kherty was feared as "death in persona", a god that "lives on the heart of men", making them stop pounding. The pyramid texts reveal that Kherty attacked the physical heart (''khat(jw)'') of the dying peoples, not the metaphysical, symbolic heart (''jb'') as the "seat of thoughts and feelings". For this reason, a lot of spells and prayers were addressed to Kherty in attempt to befriend and please him.<ref name=JGT/> Other prayers beg Ra to "take the deceased king away from Kherty". These prayers also mention [[Osiris]], the judge of the underworld. Thus, Kherty and Osiris were mythologically connected to each other.<ref name=GMD/>
 
On the other site, however, Kherty was feared as "death in persona", a god that "lives on the heart of men", making them stop pounding. The pyramid texts reveal that Kherty attacked the physical heart (''khat(jw)'') of the dying peoples, not the metaphysical, symbolic heart (''jb'') as the "seat of thoughts and feelings". For this reason, a lot of spells and prayers were addressed to Kherty in attempt to befriend and please him.<ref name=JGT/> Other prayers beg Ra to "take the deceased king away from Kherty". These prayers also mention [[Osiris]], the judge of the underworld. Thus, Kherty and Osiris were mythologically connected to each other.<ref name=GMD/>
 
Kherty is not mentioned in the famous [[Coffin Texts]] of [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom period]]. Instead, he is replaced by a god [[Aker (god)|Aker]], who is now the ferryman. In the prayers of the [[Book of the Dead]], Kherty is described as a guard who guides the celestial bark of Ra.<ref name=CLG/>
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{{Ancient Egyptian religion footer}}
 
[[Category:Egyptian death gods]]
[[Category:Underworld gods]]
[[Category:Egyptian gods]]
[[Category:Egyptian underworld]]
[[Category:Psychopomps]]
[[Category:EgyptianLion gods]]